Well done, Alistair. After taking on Brown over the crude “Labour investment vs Tory cuts” dividing line – and winning – it sounds as though the Chancellor is challenging another of the PM’s lies: that the government’s “stimulus” measures have “saved 500,000 jobs” during the recession. According to the Mail on Sunday, Darling has told the PM to stop repeating this claim because it can’t be substantiated, and he’s resisting having it put in the Budget, too.
As soon as the government started mentioning “500,000 jobs”, Westminster’s lie detectors started sounding; especially as it gradually morphed from “up to 500,000” to “at least 500,000”. We at Coffee House Towers have submitted an FOI request for the Treasury’s study behind this highly suspicious figure, but no word so far. Watch this space, as they say.
Now, claims the MoS, Darling would prefer it if Brown & Co. mitigated the claim, by returning to the “up to 500,000” formulation.
Get Britain's best politics newsletters
Register to get The Spectator's insight and opinion straight to your inbox. You can then read two free articles each week.
Already a subscriber? Log in
Comments
Join the debate for just $5 for 3 months
Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for $5.
UNLOCK ACCESS Just $5 for 3 monthsAlready a subscriber? Log in